The very first Official Sony World Golf Rankings were published at the start of this week. It’s a new concept that might take some getting used to, though the early signs suggest they paint a pretty accurate picture.
The first-ever world number one? Bernhard Langer. The 28-year-old German is the defending champion here at Augusta, and went into the Tournament full of confidence (and the wiener schnitzel he served up at the Champions Dinner). He’s living up to his billing, bouncing back from a disappointing opening round of 74 with a 68-69 salvo. He’s right in the mix, hoping to become only the second player after Jack Nicklaus (1965 and 1966) to successfully defend his Masters title. Who can stop him?
How about the new world number two? Seve Ballesteros already has two green jackets to his name, and he’s in the mood to win a third. Specifically, he in a bad mood: he’s been raging all week at PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman, who has banished him from the American tour for a year, on account of not playing enough golf to earn his card. (To be fair to Seve, his volatile volleys at Beman aren’t a patch on those sent down by Mac O’Grady, who has called Beman a “thief with a capital T” and compared him to Adolf Hitler!) But there’s no keeping Seve from Augusta, and he’s desperate to make a told-you-so statement. He’s one off the lead after three rounds.
Or is the Great White Shark about to land his first major? Greg Norman, only ranked six in the world but surely on an upwardly mobile journey that’ll take the man from down under straight to the top, leads at the 54-hole mark after a fine 68 yesterday.
And then there’s Nick Price. The young Zimbabwean, who came so close to winning the Open Championship four years ago, broke the course record at Augusta National yesterday. He made ten birdies on his way to 63, very nearly becoming the first man to shoot 62 in a major; sadly his 20-footer on 18 looped the loop in slow motion and failed to drop. Millimetres from history. He’ll be a bit higher than #52 in the world next week.
Also lurking: the resurgent Tom Watson (#4) coming out of a two-year slump; the reigning Open champion Sandy Lyle (#3) whose big drives and draws are perfectly suited to this course; Tom Kite (#16) who has finished in the top ten at Augusta nine times in the last 11 years; Donnie Hammond (#99) who won his first PGA Tour event, the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, at La Quinta in California earlier this year; and Tommy Nakajima (#7) who has been clocking up wins on the Japanese tour for fun (21 in the last four years).
But maybe it’s going to be a step too far for 46-year-old Jack Nicklaus, and not just because he’s got four shots to make up on Norman. Nicklaus has won only twice since 1980, his powers seemingly very much on the wane: he was in contention for three PGA Tour tournaments last season, but couldn’t convert any of those good positions into a win. Most unlike the Golden Bear. For the record, Jack is world number 33, though to be fair, had the R&A been cobbling together these rankings back in the sixties and seventies, he might have spent the odd week or two at the toppermost of the poppermost.
After the third round, the top of the leader board looked like this:
-6: Greg Norman
-5: Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Donnie Hammond, Nick Price
-4: Tommy Nakajima, Tom Kite, Tom Watson
-2: Danny Edwards, Gary Koch, Sandy Lyle, Mark McCumber, Jack Nicklaus, Corey Pavin, Bob Tway
The weather today is utterly gorgeous, perfect conditions for golf. Sunny, but not too blistering, and very little wind. Surely someone, somewhere, will seize the chance to shoot a round for the ages? Let’s hope so! With so many of the world’s top players in contention, there’s a great chance. It’s the final day of the 50th Masters Tournament! CBS’s coverage is about to start! It’s on!